---
title: "Management by chaos"
description: "How the early team settled game design without managers or process."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/play-nice/management-by-chaos/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Management by chaos

> How the early team settled game design without managers or process.

Jason Schreier's framework, from Play Nice, pp. 13 to 109.

Framework 1 of 15 from [Play Nice](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/play-nice/index.md) by Jason Schreier. Category: Sales and negotiation.

## The steps

1. **Call the room.** Adham pulls every artist and programmer into one room to solve a design problem.
2. **Debate to agreement.** Everyone says their piece and the group iterates until all agree, however long it takes.
3. **Let the persuader close.** Adham's calm, understated persuasion breaks deadlocks, earning him the Velvet Hammer nickname.
4. **Everyone plays it.** The whole company plays the build so they all understand how it works.
5. **Bring in outsiders.** When the team has played too much to stay objective, external playtesters are added.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: PART ONE: RISE, pp. 13–109

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/play-nice/management-by-chaos.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/play-nice/management-by-chaos-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/play-nice/management-by-chaos.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/play-nice/management-by-chaos-dark.png